Pope Pius XI ordains six Chinese bishops

Pope Pius XI ordained the first six Chinese bishops of the modern era at the Vatican Basilica on October 28, 1926. The group consisted of six Chinese apostolic vicars who traveled from Shanghai to Rome to receive their episcopal ordinations.

The ordinations followed a process initiated by Pope Benedict XV through the apostolic letter Maximum Illud, which encouraged the Church to inculturate within local territories and ended the era of political protectorates over missions. Archbishop Celso Costantini, the Apostolic Delegate to China, helped implement these guidelines and suggested to Rome that indigenous dioceses be established so Chinese bishops could serve as official representatives at the National Council.

One of the ordained men, Odorico Cheng Hede, became the first bishop of the Apostolic Prefecture of Puchi, which was the first ecclesiastical territory in China entrusted to Chinese clergy leadership. Cheng Hede had previously served as Apostolic Prefect of Puchi starting in March 1924.

The six vicars began their journey from Shanghai on September 10, 1926, accompanied by Archbishop Costantini. Their trip to Rome included stops in Hong Kong and Manila before traveling through four European countries.